Trivia of the Month (& Answer)...

The month’s question asked who said “The Liberty of the press is essential to the security of the state”?  Joh Adams can be credited with that quote in the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780.

The question (& answer) were taken from p. 405 of the Dictionary of American Quotations selected and annotated by Margaret Miner and Hugh Rawson.  The book was published in 1997by Penguin.

December's Arroyo Book Club Book

December’s book club book selection is the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.  We will be reading the “Shakespeare Made Easy” edition (ISBN: 0812035739) so you will have the option of reading the original text or the translated into modern English text.  We will meet to discuss the book on December 17 at 3:00.  This is earlier in the month then usual since our usual fourth Saturday falls right on the holiday.  

Stop by the library and pick up a copy of the book and then plan to join us for discussion.  I would ask that you make note of any passages you find particularly compelling for whatever reason and plan to share with the group (perhaps even declaim them).

While we’re on the topic of Shakespeare… be sure to catch America’s Shakespeare: The Bard Goes West --- an exhibition at the Getty Gallery in Central Library.  The display will continue through February 26.  During the same period a number of branches will be doing Shakespeare themed programming of all flavors.  Be sure to stop by the event calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) and do a search on the term Shakespeare to pull up a list of these programs, then plan to go to the ones that most intrigue you. There really is an extraordinary collection of events so don’t miss out.

Events for the Week of November 27….

Events going on at the library this week include…

• Make it Monday features a make an electronic greeting card project on Monday (11/28) at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (11/30) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (12/1) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• LA OIC Computer Boot Camp on Friday (12/2) from 1:00-4:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (12/3) at 2:00

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

Library Events in December…

(Mark your calendars accordingly)

The library has some interesting events planned in December.  As always, I thought I’d take a minute and give you a run down so you can plan ahead.  Let’s start with the non-repeating events:

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12/2 from 1:00-4:00
LA OIC Boot Camp
This program puts low cost computers in the hands of low income people.  This session is in English. Call or drop by to sign up.

12/4 @ 11:45
NELA Holiday Parade
Join us and march in the Northeast Los Angeles Holiday parade.  We will be celebrating our love of books so join us dressed as a character from a book or carrying a sign advertising your favorite book.  We will meet in the library parking lot.

12/5 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Building Block Challenge
Join us fun with building blocks.  What can you make?

12/6 @ 3:00
Teen Council Meeting
Join us for an activity of some kind and simultaneously share your thoughts about the library.

12/6 @ 6:00
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

12/10 @ 2:00
Classical Guitar Concert
Join us for a performance of classical guitar music by local musician David Maroglis.

12/12 from 2:00-4:00
LA DOT Tap Card Information Session
Stop by with questions for the LA Department of Transportation.  Get your TAP card reloaded while you’re here.

12/12 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Special Tide Pool Animal Program
Experience marine life up close and personal with live tide pool animals and specimens.

12/13 @ 3:00
Teen Program
Join us for an exciting, teen-friendly event

12/17 @ 3:00
Arroyo Book Club
Join us for a lively discussion of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.

12/19 @ 4:00
Make it Monday: Holiday Crafts
Join us and make some lovely winter holiday themed projects.

12/20 @ 6:00
Club de Lectores
Hay café, pastel casero, ye conversación amena sobre el libro que estamos leyendo

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Each month the library also has a number of ongoing classes & events.  They are:

Toddler Storytime - - - Wednesdays at 10:30 
Little Ones’ 3 and under & their grownups are invited to join us for stories, music, & games.  (No session on 12/7)

Baby Storytime - - - Thursdays at 10:30 
Bounces, rhymes and songs for prewalkers (age 0-12 months) and their caregivers.  (No session on 12/8 or 12/15)

STAR Volunteer Readers - - - Available on Wednesdays at 3:00, on Thursdays at 3:00, & on Saturdays at 2:00 
STAR readers present the fun of storytelling and reading to children one-on-one or in small groups. Kids earn a free book to keep after 3 visits. 

Drop in Computer Lab - - - Fridays at 3:30
Bring your questions about computers, tablets, eReaders, or other electronic devices.  We will do our best to help you figure out answers. 

- - - - - - - - - -

Please do not hesitate to call the library at 323-255-0537 if you have any questions or would like more information.  Remember that you can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

Zero World

I’m not quite sure of what I make of Zero World by Jason M. Hough or rather I’m not sure how to discuss what I make of the book without giving away plot points that the author is very good at revealing unexpectedly.  What we have here is basically a thriller with SF overtones and an author who likes to keep everyone in the dark.  Peter Caswell is a spy, an industrial spy.  He has an implant that resets his memories after every assignment so, while he knows he has killed, he never knows details of any kind.  He is sent off on a mission to a recently recovered space craft where he finds all but one of the crew dead.  Discovering that the crew had been through a mysterious rift in space to an earth-like planet, he is sent in to see if he can find and assassinate the missing crew member.  

The book is quite good - though this is an author with no compunction about killing many, many characters.  I, however, found that the author’s parsimonious release of information about the overall structure of the world and his continual use of surprise annoying.  Try at your own risk.

Events for the Week of November 20….

As I’m sure you know, Thanksgiving is this week.  The library will be closed on the 24^th & 25^th because of it.  Events going on at the library during the rest of the week include…

• Make it Monday features Thanksgiving themed crafts on Monday (11/21) at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (11/23) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (11/26) at 2:00
• Meeting of the Arroyo Book Club on Saturday at 3:00

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

NELA Holiday Parade

The Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade will march down Figueroa Street from about where the library lives (Piedmont Avenue) to Sycamore Park on Sunday, December 4th.   This year the library will be participating and we invite you (& your family & friends) to join us.  Our theme will be “Highland Park’s Favorite Books” so figure out some way to honor your favorite book ---- a related costume, an informative poster or banner ----- and join us.  We will meet up in the Library parking lot at 11:45 on the fourth.

Please get in touch if you plan to join us so we can know to expect you.  Call us at 323-255-0537, email us at ayosco@lapl.org, or drop by and sign up in person.  The more the merrier so pass along word of the event to everyone you know who might be interested.

Trivia of the Month...

This month’s question is: who said “The Liberty of the press is essential to the security of the state”?

Sorcerer to the Crown

In Sorcerer to the Crown Zen Cho takes us to a Regency England in a world that has working magic.  Zacharias Wythe is the Sorcerer Royal and is beset by both his status as a freed slave in a society that esteems class and a serious waning in the amount of magic available for use by English sorcerers.  Escaping town to lecture at a school for gentlewitches Wythe meets Prunella, a prodigiously talented orphan girl recently reduced to servant status who is anxious to escape.  The story goes on to slyly undermine the social mores of the Regency period in which it is set.

An interesting book this will appeal to those who enjoyed Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

Events for the Week of November 13….

Events going on at the library this week include…

• Make it Monday features a Dreamcatcher craft on Monday (11/14) at 4:00
• Exciting teen program on Tuesday (11/15) at 4:00
• Lectores meet on Tuesday at 6:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (11/16) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (11/17) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Drop in Computer Lab on Friday (11/18) at 3:30
• STAR Reader on Saturday (11/19) at 2:00
• Movie Showing (of the book club book) on Saturday at 3:00

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

Websites I Like…

A website to look at when you’re looking into how the schools in your neighborhood are doing is the Ed-Data site (http://www.ed-data.org/).  This site allows you to examine the demographics of a specific California school as well as the performance.  It also allows you to compare schools or districts, though the interface for doing so takes a little work for understanding. It will let you export your results so you can use this tool when preparing your own report.

Marry Kiss Kill

In Marry Kiss Kill by Anne Flett-Giordano two Santa Barbara based detectives find themselves investigating three deaths, a local homeless musician gunned down in a park, a recently bankrupted financial mogul who seems to have committed suicide, and an eco-crazy psychologist who is found dead apparently accidently killed by a deer.  Are all of these deaths murders? How could they possibly be connected? Our detectives set to work and eventually bring justice to all.

The book is billed as humorous by its jacket copy but I just didn’t see it.  The characters are all pretty terrible people and the detectives are so snarky, sardonic, and tied up by questions of sex & relationship that it is hard to see them functioning in the real world.  This was not a book I enjoyed though I could see it appealing to someone who appreciates snark & sarcasm.

Events for the Week of November 6….

Remember that the library will be closed on Friday November 11 for Veterans Day.  Events going on at the library during the rest of the week include…

• Make it Monday features a building block challenge on Monday (11/7) at 4:00
• Toddler Storytime on Wednesday (11/9) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Wednesday at 3:00
• Baby Storytime on Thursday (11/10) at 10:30
• STAR Reader on Thursday at 3:00
• Arroyo Seco Open House ALL DAY on Saturday (11/12).  Activities include:
• Community Bike Ride – Starts at 10:00
• Friends’ Book Sale – From 10:00 to 12:00
• Library eResource Classes – on the hour from 12:00 to 3:00
• L.A. Plays Launch Party & Storytime – at 1:00
• City Services & Renters’ Rights Presentation – at 3:00
• There will also be informational tables staffed by The Literacy Program & The Arroyo Arts Collective from 10:00-3:00
• STAR Reader on Saturday at 2:00

You can always check the Branch Page (http://www.lapl.org/branches/arroyo-seco) on the LAPL website for upcoming events or check out the Master Calendar (http://www.lapl.org/whats-on/calendar) where you can search for something specific across multiple branches.

November’s eResource of the Month

Would you be interested in leveraging your cell phone for your educational advancement?  Then the electronic resource of the month for November, Cell-Ed, is perfect for you.  Cell-Ed is a mobile bilingual English-Spanish learning service that delivers 3-minute lessons to your mobile phone.  Three courses are available: English on the Go, Vamos a Leer, and Citizenship on the Go. Lessons are taught using calls and text messages, Internet data is not required. 

Do note that in order to take advantage of this service you will need unlimited data and texting on your mobile phone.

You will find the Cell-Ed platform online on the library’s website under the “Adult Literacy” page under the “Learn Online” menu. (http://www.lapl.org/adult-literacy/learn-online) 

In order to begin you will simply call 213-223-7330 and enter the PIN 5275.  You will have to work through a short enrollment process before you can begin for the first time.  

If you need any help you may call the Los Angeles Public Library’s Singleton Adult Literacy Center at 213-228-7037.